Pakistan is studying the feasibility of procuring three or four FD-2000 long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems from China to fulfill its long-range air defence requirements, TASS news agency reported citing Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) official.

FD-2000 (Fang Dun, Defensive Shield) is the export designation of the HQ-9 (Hong Qi-9) air defense system developed by the China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC). The system is based extensively on the Russian S-300PMU air defense missile system.

Each HQ-9 launcher contains four missiles stored in individual containers and is transported on Taian TA5380 8×8 high mobility chassis. The missile is armed with a 180 kg warhead, has a maximum speed of Mach 4.2. and has a maximum engagement range of 125 km up to an altitude of 27 km.

FD-2000 system can intercept not only aircraft, attack helicopters and UAVs, but also cruise missiles, air-to-ground missiles and stand-off precision guided bombs.

Pakistan has also become the first operator of the newest Chinese portable QW-18 anti-aircraft missile system. “At present, the first batch of these MANPADS has been received, consisting of about 200 launchers and about 1 thousand anti-aircraft guided missiles. In the future, deliveries will continue, while the mass production line of this weapon is being prepared for launch under a Chinese license,” the official was quoted as saying.